Adriana Garcia (left) is hoping to lead Johnson into a second straight berth in the state tournament.

Adriana Garcia (left) is hoping to lead Johnson into a second straight berth in the state tournament.

Photo: TOM REEL, Express-News

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Judson's Andrew Gomez and Steele's Cameron McClintock both make up tough defenses for their respective teams.

Judson's Andrew Gomez and Steele's Cameron McClintock both make up tough defenses for their respective teams.

Photo: TOM REEL, San Antonio Express-News

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Soccer's second season

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The UIL soccer playoffs kick off today, with Class 4A teams playing bidistrict matches. Staff writer Terrence Thomas takes a look at some of the postseason storylines:

Championship encores?

A year ago, the Boerne Champion boys and Johnson girls won regional titles. Can each earn repeat championships?

Champion coach David Rogers knew his team would endure growing pains this season after losing 10 starters to graduation. The Chargers started the year 1-7, won nine of their next 10, lost consecutive district games against Alamo Heights (3-0) and Fredericksburg (6-1) before winning their final two regular-season games. The Chargers might not have the star power of last year, but don't be surprised if they advance to the regional tournament.

Johnson returned a good nucleus from last year's landmark season, and despite the graduation of its top three scorers, expectations were still high under first-year coach Kara Stracener, who was promoted from assistant coach after Ashley Garrison retired. But with three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Jaguars were in third place in District 26-5A after a 4-2 loss against MacArthur.

They have won five in a row since, outscoring their opponents 16-1.

Johnson is peaking at the right time, and if it can make it through a tough playoff road — it could face top-ranked Brandeis in the second round — another trip to regionals is attainable.

One of the toughest parts about the playoffs is that for many it could be their last time playing. For one coach and one team, these playoffs offer them such finality.

New Braunfels boys coach Larry Schaffer is retiring after this season to become the women's soccer coach at Texas Lutheran. He is 342-168-64 in 30 seasons that include stints at McCollum, Smithson Valley, Roosevelt and Churchill. He led Churchill to the 1998 and 2001 state championships.

While Schaffer has a future in soccer, this is the end of the road for the Fox Tech boys team.

Because of a dwindling enrollment and the school's transition to a health career and law magnet school, the Buffaloes are dropping the sport. They play Medina Valley at 1 p.m. Saturday at the SAISD Complex.

Defense never rests

You remember all of those 8-0, 7-2 and 6-1 scores during the regular season? Don't count on seeing anything like that in the next few weeks.

If the regular-season numbers hold up, scoring goals will be hard to come by during the postseason.

Match we’d like to see: Alamo Heights vs. Boerne Champion. The teams split their District 54-4A meetings, with each winning 3-0 at home. The rubber match would come with a trip to the state tournament on the line.

GIRLS

REGION IV-5A

Area favorite: Brandeis. The Broncos haven’t skipped a beat despite being hit hard by injuries to key players.

Others to watch: Reagan, Johnson, MacArthur, Steele

Match we’d like to see: Johnson vs. Reagan. Both teams, however, have tough roads to navigate before they could face off in the regional final.

REGION IV-4A

Area favorite: Alamo Heights. The young but talented Mules have been on a roll, winning 13 straight heading into the playoffs.

Others to watch: Smithson Valley, Boerne Champion, Clemens, Bandera

Match we’d like to see: Alamo Heights vs. Smithson Valley. This potential matchup would be the perfect offense-vs.-defense showdown. And it would be for a trip to state.